U.S. POSTAL SERVICE MAY BE FORCED TO CLOSE FOR THE WINTER

the Blaze ^ | September 5, 2011 | Becket Adams

[kingattax]

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is going to have to find a way to make up for hemorrhaging financial losses (which has already rendered them incapable of making a $5.5 billion payment to its employee healthcare plan by the Sept. 30 due date) or face the possibility of closing shop for the winter.

Their unique situation raises two questions: first, how did it come to this? Second, how should it be addressed?

[csuzieque]

There are facilities called “Rubber Rooms” where employees who have nothing to do (and can’t be laid off or let go) go to spend the day - reading, web surfing, sleeping. Just waiting for retirement. (Source: John&Ken, KFI - LA radio)

[Buckeye McFrog]

so.....close FOR CHRISTMAS, the one time of year the USPS actually still does some business.

Does that sound like a Democrat idea or what?

[cherry]

they’ll cut service and STILL not cut a single pensions or increase premiums for health care....you can bet too that having to work one less day will not affect the paychecks of these guys.....just like the teachers....give them more time off and still pay them the same...

[texmexis best]

Just close the Department of Education. 71 billion saved right there.

See how easy this is?

Just cut off the worthless departments and it’s Miller time.

[goat granny]

Thanks for the info...Saturday off isn’t really a big inconvience but have to cut salary to reflect 1 day less of work.....but the union would screm bloody murder...

[Cboldt]

Congress should reschedule winter.

[SandRat]

Just in time for Christmas.

[The Sons of Liberty]

Take a deep breath. Smell the stink? It smells like a union shakedown. The Postal Service says it will have to shutdown for the winter, just when Christmas (am I still allowed to say that under the 0bama regime?) packages will need to be mailed. They're counting on congress caving (and I'm sure they will) and giving them more money to fritter away on parties etc.

FUBO GTFO ! 500 Days until Noon Jan 20, 2013 - Hell Yes, change is coming!

[ml/nj]

And when the civil war starts the Internet will be take down so that the only people who will be able to communicate with others outside their immediate sphere will be Federal Security Folks.

ML/NJ

[mikey_hates_everything]

Not going to happen. How many people need the USPS compared to GM and Chrysler? And no one allowed those two to shut down.

[freespirited]

Exactly. This is a headfake to get concessions from the unions. Congress will never let the post office shut down, it is dependent on it to communicate with constituents.

[kidd]

The Postal Service says it will have to shutdown for the winter, just when Christmas packages will need to be mailed. They're counting on congress caving

Its the same trick used locally. Town has budget problems...looks for cuts in the school budget...school administrator offers to cut music, sports, buses (rather than cut administrators, reduce benefits, etc)...town council caves, budget problem remains

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Yeah! I can toss my Christmas card list for this year!

[Noob1999]

......................Saturday off isn’t really a big inconvience but have to cut salary to reflect 1 day less of work...................

Actually, having 6 day deliveries means that there have to be rotating shifts of workers. Going to five days would allow for a huge reduction in personnel, with all carriers and window people having Sat and Sun off.

[rockabyebaby]

Actually I have a part time business were most of what I buy/sell goes via the Postal system. Since I can print my postage at home and have the USPS pick it up at the mail box, this would be a big inconvenience if they were to shut down.

How can they shutdown for that length of time? How would people get their mail? And a lot of elderly people do not have computers so they rely on the postal system for stamps and mail delivery. I would really like to see the USPO privatized, things would run so much smoother and efficiently. I'd like to see my postmaster fired, he's rude and totally useless and my mailman isn't any better, the guys who fill in for the mailman when he's on vaca are so much better.

[Osage Orange]

Just who in the heck do you think is on the hook for last years...$8.5 billion dollar shortfall?????

Private investors?????

George Soros?

Biden and Obama?

Steve Jobs?

Buffet?

ROFLOL!!!

[ctdonath2]

Good point. Given the potential problem, guess I’ll have to preemptively switch my remaining paper billing over to straight electronic. I pay bills online, but still rely on paper to prompt me to do so. Route everything thru the Amazon credit card, siphon off a percentage for more goodies, and get to the point where anything coming in the mailbox _must_ be junk.

[goat granny]

sounds like a savings too me....:O) Every little town has a PO even if the only other business is a gas station and party store....Its rural and convenient but it seems that 10 rural post offices can be condensed into 3 or 4....from my house into town is 2 miles...has a post office....4 1/2 miles west of my house is another PO + party store. 8 miles south of me another town with a 2 block business district, and another post office. If I go north its about 10 miles to another PO in a town with a 1 block business district...west from there is another little 2 block business district town with their own post office....Every zip gets its own PO, but it seems to me condensing these would save a lot of money. Once your in your car to get to the PO a drive of 2 miles or 8 miles make no difference...and thats only for packages. Mail is delivered to mail box at road...I wouldn't miss saturday’s delivery at all and sometimes I only go to the box every couple of days...(old and lazy) :O) They could certainly get rid of so many PO each with 2 counter people, drivers for rural delivery and their own PO management....Now cutting down on all those PO and employee's would be a real start to reform and become productive...but I am not the government. They are all about saving jobs......but only government jobs....

[Osage Orange]

Will you answer?